Leadership Crisis Deepens as PDP Postpones NEC Meeting Again
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains embroiled in a leadership crisis, with no resolution in sight as the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has been postponed yet again.
The meeting, originally scheduled to address pressing issues and appoint a substantive National Chairman to replace acting Chairman Umar Damagum, has faced multiple delays since its initial planning in April 2024.
The latest postponement was announced last Friday, with no new date set, citing the funeral of the late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State as the reason.
A Timeline of Delays
April 18, 2024: During the 98th NEC meeting, the party resolved to finalize key decisions by August 15, but the meeting was postponed.
October 24, 2024: Rescheduled date was again pushed to November 28, allegedly to maintain focus during the Ondo gubernatorial elections.
November 24, 2024: The NEC meeting was indefinitely postponed, leaving party stakeholders frustrated.
Stakeholder Reactions
The continuous postponements have stirred discontent among PDP members.
Accusations of deliberate delays to prolong Damagum’s tenure until the party’s next national convention have surfaced.
Kola Ologbondiyan, a former National Publicity Secretary, criticized the postponements as a violation of the party’s constitution, warning that failure to address these issues undermines the PDP’s credibility.
Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, alleged that top party officials have been secretly collaborating with the ruling APC, describing it as a betrayal of PDP values.
Austin Okai, a North Central PDP chieftain, attributed the crisis to selfish political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections, accusing governors of double standards.
Governors’ Forum Response
In a Saturday meeting, PDP governors issued a communique urging the party’s leadership to convene a NEC meeting by February 2025.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, chair of the PDP Governors’ Forum, emphasized the need for inclusive consultations to address the party’s internal challenges and legal battles.
Looking Ahead
With mounting frustrations, PDP members are demanding decisive action to restore order within the party.
However, lingering divisions and alleged external influences continue to threaten the party’s unity and relevance.
Stay tuned to NIGPOST for further updates on the PDP leadership crisis and other political developments.
Leave a Reply